Chamouse

At an altitude of 1531 m, Chamouse mountain is one of the highest peaks in the Baronnies. It is formed by a fold in a concave geological layer known as a "syncline", forming a veritable basin that shelters the Ouvèze springs.

Departure point: Montauban-sur-l'Ouvèze, "Ruissas, alt.844 m".
Access by car: From Saint-Auban-sur-l'Ouvèze, take the Col de Perty road. Last hamlet before the pass.

1. From the hamlet, take the road to Col de Perty. After 500 m, at the Col de la Chapelle, leave the D65 and go straight ahead on a small road that leads to the hamlet of Somecure.

2. Pass the chapel and take the track due south up the Chantaour ravine. Keep to the main track, ignoring the left-hand forks. Cross the top of the combe and turn left onto the track leading to "Col de la Trappe, alt.1100 m".

3. Climb to the left over the ridges, continuing straight on at "Clot de Pitoye, alt.1265 m" to reach "Col d'Izon, alt.1343 m".

4. From the pass, turn left, walk a hundred meters or so to reach a crossroads in a stony area.

5. Take the path due east over the rocky bar. You are entering a pastoral area: stay away from the herds. The route climbs a first knoll, then a second to reach the Chamouse summit (alt.1531 m), marked by a geodesic marker. 360° panorama over the Baronnies massif and the Alps to the north.

6. Start descending, still following the ridge. After 900 m, at the junction "La Tussie, alt.1430 m", continue straight on. 200
m further on, the path splits at the "Crêtes de Chamouse, alt.1390 m" junction.

7. Leave the ridge and descend to the left through the alpine pasture (follow the signs and cairns) to the Cabanon Laugier (alt.1310 m), hidden by a grove of trees. Follow the track to the right.

8. In a bend, at the "La Farette" crossroads (alt.1280 m), keep left.

9. At the "Pied de Fayet, alt.1203 m" junction, turn right and follow the main track. At the road, turn left and follow the D65 for 1.9 km.

10. Pass "Fontaimon, alt.930 m", then, after the hairpin bend above Ruissas, leave the D 65 by turning right onto a track and then left onto a small road which takes you back to the starting point.

Alternative route: Le Cabanon Laugier
Start: 200 m before "le Col de Perty" from Ruissas, parking on the right.

1. Take the track on the left, 100 m after starting downhill, watch for the start of a stony path on the right, take it. The path runs along the mountainside to point 8 at the "La Farette" crossroads, alt.1280 m.

8. Turn right to point 9 at "Pied de Fayet, alt.1203 m".

9. From here, turn left onto a wide track. After walking 550 m, leave the main track, which goes left towards the sheepfold, and go straight ahead. After a bend to the left, the path becomes stony for a few metres (natural steps) and shortly afterwards emerges into an open area. Find the markings a little further up, alternating with cairns that mark out
the path leading to point 5 just before the Col d'Izon.

5. Follow the above description to point 8.

8. Turn right and follow the same route back to Col de Perty.

Spoken languages

• French

Labels and ranking

• Open air